9 questions for Aidan 'Shiwa' Wing

Who are you?

1) My name is Aidan Shiwa. The name Aidan came to my parents simultaneously in a dream, it is a very old Irish word for "Fire" or "The Firey One". The name Shiwa was given to me when I was a baby by a Tibetan Buddhist teacher Chogyam Trumpa Rinpoche. When asked the meaning of my first name, he chose the name 'Shiwa', witch meant "Peace" in order to keep the fire peaceful.

Where are you from?

2) I am from La Honda, a small town in the Santa Cruz Mountains that is most famous for being the town where Ken Kesey lived and hosted his Acid Tests.

What do you do?

3)I am a musician, a poet, a producer and a singer, I have been since age 11. I grew up listening to a wide variety of musical styles, and the music I play now reflects many of those influences. The music that has struck a chord deepest within me is Reggae. When I was a kid I wore the grooves down on all of my parents reggae albums, and would do chores in order to save enough money to bike down to the record store a by new ones. My whole philosophy on music and life is "balance". This world is globalizing fast, and of all the blessings and downfalls of that one of the aspects that process is exposure into many cultures and music. At this time and in this place we are redefining culture, out of many we are one. Many of the reggae artists from California sing in Jamaican accents over Jamaican riddims. I only sing in my own voice, the one that was given to me at birth and has grown with me all my life. Many of my songs are rooted in reggae, yet influences of Soul, Rock, Hip-Hop, Latin and World can be heard within the grooves.

Why do you do what you do?

4) I am a musician because that is what I am. I have had no choice in the matter. I did not choose music, music chose me. I believe music is the universal language. I have traveled all over the world and never had trouble communicating. The lyrics I write have a purpose. Unification is my goal through music. Music can connect our hearts, and our minds. The earth and all its creatures are in turbulent times. The need to connect is more critical then ever. Musicians are the messengers of the people, our cultures ambassadors, the peoples voice. We know that the mic is more powerful then the sword or gun.

What are you working on?

5) Right now we are busy working on our album "Peaceful Fire". This long awaited debut CD is due for release on June 1rst.

What's next?

6) The album is our whole focus right now, we are in the studio constantly. When the album is released, we will be playing heavily up and down the West Coast.

When will you be here?

7) The show will be Friday April 27th at show begins at 8:00. (arrive early because it only goes 'till midnight). It is at the Six Rivers Brewery in McKinlyville. $10.

With who?

8) I am coming up with the We-A-Dem band. We all played originally in a group called Pacific Vibrations. With Pacific Vibrations we played many festivals such as Reggae in the Park, Whole Earth and Monterrey Reggae Fest, and toured the West Coast. We also released an album "Eastern Sun". After Pacific Vibrations some of the musicians went on to form We-A-Dem, which has is currently one of the hottest back up bands in the Bay Area, backing up such artists as Army, Abja, and Norris Man. D.J. Mountains Lion Sounds will be opening and closing the show.

Website? MySpace?

9) My website is www.myspace.com/aidanshiwa also check out www.myspace.com/weadem

Peace, Aidan Shiwa